Is the Sigma fp L the Ideal Landscape Camera?

Sigma loaned me the fp L, a tiny 61 megapixel camera, to try out. So I took it to the Bannau Brycheiniog, which I think I'm somewhat mispronouncing repeatedly throughout this video (also neuadd). It turns out that hiking for hours in each direction means I forget things, and I didn't end up with any particularly interesting photos anyway, but I did at least take a good one the week before!

00:00 - Intro
01:09 - Portability for Landscapes
02:13 - Popularity
03:21 - Low ISO Capabilities
05:38 - My best landscape photo so far: Cribyn at Sunrise
06:06 - At the top of the mountain
06:57 - Handling
07:28 - Tripod use
08:03 - Controls
08:53 - EVF
09:20 - Hotshoe
09:46 - Lenses and the L-mount
11:16 - Weather changes and a few last photos
13:03 - Back to the office and conclusions
15:32 - Ideas for the future
18:38 - Custom modifications
19:41 - Outro

[allandew]

I’ve had the FPL for over a year and the more I use it the more I enjoy it. I have added a flip screen and a battery grip that allows me to shot for over a day with one battery . I use Sigma, Leica and a Lumix 28-200 lens for travel
I’m a long time Leica user and the only one I have left is my Q and it doesn’t get much use theses days. The flip screen has made this the most satisfying camera I’ve ever owned.
.

[timpriestley]

Lovely review on the fp L, well spoken and thought out, no fluff, very very refreshing indeed .
I've had mine fp L for 9 months now, and while it took me a few months to adapt to (always shot big Nikon bodies, with big lenses and still do, along with Pentax 645 MF system) but it's the size of this is it's true selling point, added it's 61mp sensor it's hard to beat., while being totally unique.
It's little niggles like slow processing of files and at times fiddly system are small trade off.
My major gripe and what you pointed out was the lack of mechanical shutter, this poses a few small issues esp when shooting in artificial lights, you really need to watch your shutter speed to off set banding... Again, a small trade of imo

I love this camera


Lovely shots you're added to your video also. Splendid review

[WasniceWasnice]

Gret video, a pleasure to watch and listen to. I own an FP since a few years ago, replaced my Leica SL, and have used it more for video since most of my photography is film. The video in DNG using the Leica glass is amazing. Thanks for a great review.

[BonuxCouleur]

I use the Sigma fp L + EVF-11 Viewfinder with a Sigma 14mm f/1.4 lens and an XLCS cage on which I have a DPL aluminium rack fitted with a 2TB SD card (no wires) and a wireless shutter system. So far, I have used it for street photography, landscape and to a lesser extent architecture. It is unbelievable. Straight out of the box, I have found the Sigma to perform better than the Leica SL3 I have tried before from a colleague at work and yes the Sigma is expensive... until you try it and consider what you get for the price. Then you will realize it punches above the weight of cameras that cost three times as much. Sigma is actually a bit like Mamiya, these are extremely well made cameras but the brand is itself quite specialized. While Mamiya made an attempt at 35mm film camera in the 80s (I had one that was stolen in a burglary) it is not a brand that is known to the greater public, it is a brand that is exclusively known to professional photographer and anyone with an interest in medium format. These are two brands that are often ahead of their time but that for some reasons don't quite have the badge and appeal of a Leica or Hasselblad to photographers who very often never use their camera to the best of its ability. There is almost this idea that owning a Leica or Hasselblad will make you a great photographer without you working towards it.

That's why I think the Sigma is so popular in Japan the way Mamiya was in the mid format offer, because it offers a hell of a lot more if you care to pause and read the manual and watch a lot of YouTube videos. Japanese people I believe have the patience and the will to work for it and extract what is hidden inside. It is an almost endless learning curve. It is ironic that the fp is marketed as being specialized because I have found it to be in fact quite versatile considering what it does. Even the preset settings are more interesting than that of the Leica. To me this is the sort of camera that might become collector because you know there is no guarantee Sigma will ever produce a series of fp upgrades. The fp and fp L offer is an acquired taste among photographer and the lack of mechanical shutter is the absolute breaking point for the "purists". I love a mechanical shutter too but I can work around it. When you look at Sigma's cameras over the years, they tend to come up with quirky innovative models but they are always hit and miss and never quite get the recognition they deserve just like Mamiya did not quite always get it compared to Hasselblad. The company was sold and bought a few times over. What is reassuring with Sigma is that their Lens are now recognized as some of the best when maybe 10 years ago, they were in the Tamron category, you would buy them only if you could not afford the Nikon, Canon, Sony and Pentax lenses. Overall I bought the fp L exactly for what you said, the quality and results you get, the ability to keep it reasonably compact and because there is so many smart accessories for the Sigma out there, the flexibility it offers. For the thing I do right now which is hiking and sailing, I only need three thing: my Sigma fp L, Insta 360 and a DJI Mini. I might get a 35mm Lens after that and it will be it. When I used to have a Nikon DSLR I would carry so much weight, very often I would not bother to take it out and use my mobile phone instead... this is how bad and sad it was.

[bardofhighrenown]

The fp box is probably one of the best camera ideas I've heard in awhile

[chinatagebuch]

"... most modern cameras are made and designed in Japan but [...] this [...] feels like it was designed for Japan ... ". Yesss, it's a Kei-Camera! 😎 When I first bought the FPL, I initially only had film in mind. I mean, where else can you get pure RAW 12bit at 4k for that price? But the more I travelled with it, the more I left my actual still camera (GFX50R) at home. There were very few moments when I regretted it. My enthusiasm for this camera is not being replaced by habit, it is growing. 🤘

[NWPipeSmoker]

I enjoyed the review. I've thought about picking up a used fp-L. I have two fp's now, and I like them very much. As you said, a likeable camera. The fp (like the S2-series) has great low-light capability. What's put me off is the low-pass filter on the fp-L (but not the fp). I would probably spring for a fp-M (monochrome 61mp sensor) if they offered it. L-mount is also very easy to get adapters to re-use your older lenses (in my case Pentax 645), but I always come back to modern Sigma Art and Contemporary lenses.
-Tom

[Ricardo-SW]

So refreshing to see a well-paced, insightful and enjoyable video for adults! I'm now subscribed

[cameronthegreat]

I love this camera but I can’t never get the focus to work and for some reason it always blows up the highlights for me

[williamschaffel]

I loved my fp, so I upgraded to the fpL with same small grip because I shoot stills, mostly landscape, and no video. I have the 45mm f2.8 and the 90mm f2.8, the perfect pair of prime lenses to go with the tiny fpL. An fpL II with a tilting LCD would be a great next step as long as Sigma doesn't change much else. Great video by the way.

[huwalban]

I've owned and use my fpL exclusively for landscape photography for the last three years (in fact three years this month (Sep)), and I LOVE it! For me it is the perfect landscape photography (digital) camera. I'm surprised that you don't like the controls, because I find them very "film-like", i.e. they reward deliberate use. This is NOT a run-and-gun camera at all, although I have dipped into a bit of street photography with mine and, when partnered with the iSeries prime lenses, found it to be a very capable tool. I also have an S5ii as an l-mount backup and more general purpose option, however if I'm heading to a landscape location then it is always the fpL that comes with me.

[carstenhjort]

For nature and landscape the FPL is absolutely perfect. Use it with grip and EVF. The sensor is wonderful and the images have a special look that I love so much!

[colingregg]

However challenging, the image quality and colour science from the fp cameras is very hard to beat

[elimajewski]

This is why I like Sigma products - they are not afraid of implementing bold ideas.

[CeroYoutubo]

Great video. It is all nice idea... just you have 2k sitting on shelf most of the time sadly, but I always liked sigma cameras and from time to time I will go back to them. Hopefully they bring something new soon. Great video.

[Mr]

Beautiful Country Side Wales >> I am from Dusty Africa ..totally different > I enjoyed the Video Rob

[imac]

Well done Robert, You might want to try Sigma's SD Quattro for stills.

[cedartreefilms]

Great review and video overall! I have the FP not fp L but the high res is tempting. How did you get Sigma to send a trial one out?

[SMGJohn]

Foveon is probably a lot better landscape camera, its just a shame about the mount though, they really need a Foveon with L mount, and higher quality eVF so we can actually see where to focus.

[ChrisThe]

I honestly don't know where the fp L is better than the a7cr